Disney+ has only been out a few short weeks and has already become our go-to for family movie nights. It offers a huge variety of options for families with kids of all ages. Today I am sharing our list of 50 Disney+ movies and shows your family will love.
We are a Disney family and I grew up watching the Disney channel. We were always watching the live action movies from the 60s all through the 80s, and they bring back such fun memories that I usually had to scour the library to find to share with my kids.
This has all changed with the new Disney+. Disney+ is Disney’s all new streaming service that has old and new TV and movie options for families to enjoy. Disney+ can be purchased on its own, as a bundle with Hulu, or if you are a Verizon customer they have options to sign up for a year free.
We set it up the day it started and love the options for our family. From some of my favorite shows I grew up watching to some new favorites, Disney+ is bringing the magic of Disney to our home.
Winter has settled in here in Rochester, NY and it is the perfect time to cozy up and enjoy the stellar entertainment options Disney+ offers. I have spent the last few weeks checking out the offerings, all in the name of research, and have come up with our list of what you and your family should be watching on Disney+ this year.
50 Disney+ Movies and TV Shows for Families
Return to Oz
This movie was a favorite of mine growing up and I can’t wait to share it with the kids. Follow Dorothy, played by Fairuza Balk, as she returns to Oz to save her friends and restore the Emerald city. The movie definitely has some creepy elements, but it falls more along the lines of movies from the 80s like Labyrinth. I would suggest this one for school aged kids.
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Disney+ has brought back a few of my favorite cartoons growing up to share with an entirely new generation. Gummi Bears, Talespin, Ducktales, Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck are some of our favorites.
Hearing the Gummi Bears song brings me back to Saturday mornings. The excitement to watch your Saturday morning cartoons is something kids today will never understand. Now we can at least recreate the feeling and create our own Saturday morning watch list.
Phineas and Ferb
We fell in love with Phineas and Ferb about five years ago and watched all the seasons and movies as a family. The clever writing and creative songs made this a fun cartoon for kids and adults. It is our favorite and I love that we can rewatch some of our favorite episodes and seasons on Disney+.
DuckTales (New)
I mentioned the original DuckTales earlier but Disney+ also has the new DuckTales that has been reimagined and is so well written. Disney+ also has the DuckTales movie from the early 90s and the shorts from the current season.
X-Men Series (Cartoon)
The X-Men series was quickly added to our watch list by my husband. He remembered it from the early 90s and really enjoyed the story arc of the series.
Classic Movies from the Vault
If you have followed the classic Disney movies you know they would be sold and then go into the mysterious vault where you couldn’t buy them again. Disney+ has changed all that! You can now watch the classics all the way back to the beginning.
A few of my favorites are Alice in Wonderland, Aladdin, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver and Company, Meet the Robinsons, Moana, and Mulan. You can start from the beginning and watch Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. There are over 100 animated movies to choose from.
Pixar Movies
Pixar Movies are also among the animated options and it looks like most are available on Disney+. A few of our favorites are Brave, Inside Out, Monsters Inc, Coco, and Up. In my opinion you can’t really go wrong with a Pixar animated movie and they have some of the best storytelling out there.
Muppet Movies
If you are a Muppet fan you can find the original movies and new movies to share as a family. Disney+ also has episodes of the new Muppet Babies series. Fingers crossed they bring the original Muppet Babies to Disney+ but I do really enjoy the re-imagined Muppet Babies! Read More: What We Love About the Muppet Babies
Escape from Witch Mountain(Original)
I may be a bit biased on this movie because I loved it when I was in second grade. It was the perfect mix of magic and mystery, and was my favorite. I know they have made a remake that is not currently on Disney+ but I say watch the original 1975 version and let your kids enjoy how far the special effects in movies has truly come.
Honey I Shrunk the Kids
All three of the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids my movies are available on Disney+. I look forward to sharing the original with the kids and reminiscing about Disney’s MGM Studios Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground.
Silly Symphony
Silly Symphony is a collection of Disney animated shorts filled with music. The best way to search for these is to look through Disney Through the Decades. Some started as early as the 1920s. I remember watching The Three Little Pigs and The Tortoise and the Hare.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a big deal when it first aired in 1988. It not only featured Disney characters but other characters like Bugs Bunny and Betty Boop. I have been waiting for this to be available to watch as a family and I’m excited to finally have the opportunity to share it with the kids.
Mickey Mouse Classic Shorts From the Beginning
You can start watching the Mickey Mouse cartoons with Steamboat Willie. This was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon and it was also done by Walt Disney. As someone who loves seeing the creative side of things, it is incredible to see the growth of the animation and imagineer department. This leads me to our next pick.
The Imagineering Story
We started watching this as a family but it can be a little slow at times for the kids. It tells the story of when Walt first started this idea of Disneyland and the journey to where they are today. This series is for the Disney fan who wants to learn more about the “How” of Disney. It is inspiring to see the triumphs and failures, and how Disney has become what we now know it as.
Pixar Shorts
Pixar Shorts were usually saved for the start of the latest Pixar movie. Now we can watch our favorite ones in the comfort of our own home. Lava is my absolute favorite telling a story of love and loneliness. Float is a new one that we also really enjoyed.
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is an original series geared towards the Star Wars fan. It has a great story line and adorable baby Yoda and is best for kids school aged and up. If they have watched the Star Wars movies they may be okay with it but I suggest watching an episode to see if it is good for your kids.
Diary of a Future President
Diary of a Future President follow Elena as she navigates middle school on her path to being president of the United States of America. We are three episodes in and I am really enjoying this show. It talks about some mature topics and is suitable for middle school and older kids.
High School Musical: The Musical Series
High School Musical is a classic Disney Channel original movie but the new series High School Musical: The Musical Series takes a spin at remaking this classic. It is set in the high school where High School Musical was filmed and they are putting on a school musical of High School Musical. Sounds a bit complicated but it works. I recommend this for tweens or older kids.
Disney Channel Original Movies
Think Camp Rock, Teen Beach Movie, Zombies, and the Descendants. They go back to the 1990s through today of your favorite Disney Channel original movies.
Encore
Encore is a reality show that brings back graduates to perform their school musical. I love seeing how much the musical meant to their stories. The “kids” are now adults and they are back together for a one night performance of their original show.
The World According to Jeff Goldblum
We finally started watching this over the weekend and it is an interesting premise. Basically Jeff Goldblum takes you on a curious journey to learn more about ordinary things. The first episode was about sneakers and I can’t wait to see the others. It is a basic premise but a really interesting story.
Marvel
Disney+ includes most of the Marvel movies like Thor, Ant Man, Iron Man, and Captain Marvel. It also has Marvel Hero Project that puts a spotlight on kids doing extraordinary things. Marvel Rising series and the Spider-man cartoon series are also part of the Marvel options on Disney+.
Star Wars
If you are a fan of Star Wars you will find the movies, series, and even the LEGO Star Wars movies. I mention The Mandalorian as the new original series, but fans of Star Wars will have the option to share their love of the franchise with their kids.
Holiday Movies
Some of our favorite holiday family movies are on Disney+ making it a lot easier to watch this season. There are familiar favorites like Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and Mickey’s Christmas Carol. There is also a brand new holiday movie, Noelle, that I am going to add to our holiday family movie nights. You can also watch the Disney Parks being decorated for the holidays in the special, Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic.
Best Disney+ Movie List for Families
- Return to Oz
- DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp
- Alice in Wonderland
- Aladdin
- The Great Mouse Detective
- Oliver and Company
- Meet the Robinsons
- Moana
- Mulan
- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
- Brave
- Inside Out
- Monsters Inc
- Coco
- Up
- The Muppet Movie: The Original Classic
- The Muppets (2011)
- Escape from Witch Mountain
- Honey I Shrunk the Kids (All 3 Movies)
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- High School Musical
- Camp Rock
- Descendants
- Noelle
- Home Alone
- The Santa Clause
- Mickey’s Christmas Carol
- Thor
- Ant Man
- Captain Marvel
- Star Wars Movies
Best Disney+ Shows for Families
- Gummi Bears
- Talespin
- Ducktales (Original)
- Rescue Rangers
- Darkwing Duck
- Phineas and Ferb
- DuckTales (New)
- X-Men Series
- Silly Symphony: The Three Little Pigs
- Silly Symphony: The Tortoise and the Hare
- Pixar Shorts
- The Mandalorian
- The Imagineering Story
- Encore
- Decorating Disney: Holiday Magic
- The World According to Jeff Goldblum
- Marvel Hero Project
- Marvel Rising (Series)
- LEGO Star Wars Series
I am sure as Disney+ adds more original content and more favorites from my past this list will continue to grow. This list is our current favorite Disney+ entertainment offerings and I can’t wait to see what they share next.
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